Self-propelled brushless surface cleaner with reclamation

Abstract

A self-propelled brushless surface cleaner with reclamation is provided as a self-contained vehicle. A cleaning head mounted to the vehicle extends forward therefrom. The cleaning head has a deck and a skirt extending from the deck such that when the skirt is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is defined. The cleaning head has at least one vent port formed in a forward portion thereof and at least one vacuum port formed in a rear portion thereof. Nozzles are mounted in the cleaning volume for movement therein when liquid under pressure is supplied thereto and sprayed therefrom. A liquid supply system supplies the liquid under pressure to the nozzles so that the surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by the liquid to produce a mixture of the liquid and contaminants loosened from the surface to be cleaned. A vacuum recycling system coupled to the vacuum port(s) draws high-pressure air through the vent port(s) and over the surface being sprayed with the liquid under pressure. The mixture of liquid and contaminants is suctioned through the rear vacuum port(s) and filtered to separate the liquid from the contaminants. The liquid so-separated is returned to the liquid supply system for reuse thereby.

1. A brushless surface cleaner, comprising:
 a vehicle having at least one drive system for propelling said vehicle on a surface to be cleaned;  
 a cleaning head mounted to said vehicle to extend forward therefrom, said cleaning head having a deck and a skirt extending from said deck wherein, when said skirt is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is bounded by said deck, said skirt and the surface to be cleaned;  
 said cleaning head having at least one vent port formed in a forward portion thereof and at least one vacuum port formed in a rear portion thereof;  
 a plurality of nozzles mounted to said deck for movement between said forward portion and said rear portion within said cleaning volume when liquid under pressure is supplied thereto and sprayed therefrom;  
 a liquid supply system mounted on said vehicle for supplying said liquid under pressure to said plurality of nozzles wherein the surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by said liquid to produce a mixture of said liquid and contaminants loosened from the surface to be cleaned; and  
 a vacuum recycling system mounted on said vehicle and coupled to said at least one vacuum port for suctioning said mixture, filtering said mixture to separate said liquid from said contaminants and returning said liquid so-separated to said liquid supply system for reuse thereby.  
 
     
     
       2. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one vent port and said at least one vacuum port are formed in said deck. 
     
     
       3. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  wherein the area defined by said at least one vent port is approximately equal to the area defined by said at least one vacuum port. 
     
     
       4. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  further comprising an open-ended duct extending from each said vent port and away from said cleaning volume. 
     
     
       5. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  wherein said skirt includes a flexible seal for contacting the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       6. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 5  wherein said flexible seal comprises a multi-layered material having at least one layer of rubber and at least one layer of nylon. 
     
     
       7. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 5  wherein said flexible seal is mounted for adjustable positioning relative to said deck. 
     
     
       8. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  further comprising means for adjusting a forward-to-rear pitch of said cleaning head relative to the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       9. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  further comprising means for adjusting a side-to-side pitch of said cleaning head relative to the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       10. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one drive system comprises:
 an electric motor;  
 a combustion-engine motor;  
 a drive train; and  
 means for selectively coupling one of said electric motor and said combustion-engine motor to said drive train to propel said vehicle.  
 
     
     
       11. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 10  further comprising:
 at least one battery serving as a first source of electricity;  
 an alternator coupled to said combustion-engine motor wherein operation of said combustion-engine motor causes said alternator to serve as a second source of electricity; and  
 means for coupling one of said first source and said second source to said electric motor.  
 
     
     
       12. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  further comprising a speed limiter coupled to said at least one drive system for setting the top speed of said vehicle. 
     
     
       13. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  further comprising a speed control coupled to said at least one drive system for maintaining a selected constant speed of said vehicle. 
     
     
       14. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of nozzles is directed towards the surface to be cleaned at an acute angle of approximately 30° with respect to vertical. 
     
     
       15. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  wherein said liquid supply system comprises:
 a tank for storing said liquid;  
 a pump coupled to said tank for pumping said liquid therefrom under pressure; and  
 a boiler having an inlet coupled to said pump for receiving said liquid under pressure and said boiler having an outlet coupled to said plurality of nozzles.  
 
     
     
       16. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  wherein said vacuum recycling system comprises:
 a vacuum tank coupled to said at least one vacuum port;  
 first filter means mounted in said vacuum tank for partially filtering said mixture wherein a partially-filtered mixture is deposited via gravity in a lower portion of said vacuum tank;  
 a sump pump mounted in said lower portion of said vacuum tank for pumping said partially-filtered mixture therefrom;  
 second filter means coupled to said sump pump for completely filtering said partially-filtered mixture wherein said liquid is returned to said liquid supply system; and  
 a vacuum source coupled to an upper portion of said vacuum tank above said partially-filtered mixture for suctioning air from said upper portion of said vacuum tank to maintain a suction force at said at least one vacuum port.  
 
     
     
       17. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 16  further comprising a baffle mounted in said upper portion of said vacuum tank for entrainment of said partially-filtered mixture drawn into said air in said upper portion of said vacuum tank by said vacuum source. 
     
     
       18. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 1  further comprising a pair of side-by-side mounting arms rotatably mounted to said deck between said forward portion and said rear portion for rotation within said cleaning volume in a plane substantially parallel to said deck, each of said mounting arms having at least one of said plurality of nozzles mounted thereon wherein said mounting arms rotate when said liquid under pressure is sprayed from said plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
       19. A brushless surface cleaner, comprising:
 a vehicle having at least one drive system for propelling said vehicle on a surface to be cleaned;  
 a cleaning head mounted to said vehicle to extend forward therefrom, said cleaning head having a deck and a skirt extending from said deck wherein, when said skirt is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is bounded by said deck, said skirt and the surface to be cleaned;  
 said cleaning head having at least one vent port formed in a forward portion of said deck and at least one vacuum port formed in a rear portion of said deck, wherein the area defined by said at least one vent port is approximately equal to the area defined by said at least one vacuum port;  
 a plurality of nozzles mounted to said deck for movement within said cleaning volume when liquid under pressure is supplied thereto and sprayed therefrom, said movement being between said at least one vent port and said at least one vacuum port, each of said plurality of nozzles directed towards the surface to be cleaned at an acute angle with respect to vertical;  
 a liquid supply system mounted on said vehicle for supplying said liquid under pressure to said plurality of nozzles wherein the surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by said liquid to produce a mixture of said liquid and contaminants loosened from the surface to be cleaned; and  
 a vacuum recycling system mounted on said vehicle and coupled to said at least one vacuum port for suctioning said mixture, filtering said mixture to separate said liquid from said contaminants and returning said liquid so-separated to said liquid supply system for reuse thereby.  
 
     
     
       20. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  further comprising an open-ended duct extending from each said vent port and away from said cleaning volume. 
     
     
       21. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  wherein said skirt includes a flexible seal for contacting the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       22. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 21  wherein said flexible seal comprises a multi-layered material having at least one layer of rubber and at least one layer of nylon. 
     
     
       23. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 21  wherein said flexible seal is mounted for adjustable positioning relative to said deck. 
     
     
       24. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  further comprising means for adjusting a forward-to-rear pitch of said cleaning head relative to the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       25. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  further comprising means for adjusting a side-to-side pitch of said cleaning head relative to the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       26. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  wherein said at least one drive system comprises:
 an electric motor;  
 a combustion-engine motor;  
 a drive train; and  
 means for selectively coupling one of said electric motor and said combustion-engine motor to said drive train to propel said vehicle.  
 
     
     
       27. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 26  further comprising:
 at least one battery serving as a first source of electricity;  
 an alternator coupled to said combustion-engine motor wherein operation of said combustion-engine motor causes said alternator to serve as a second source of electricity; and  
 means for coupling one of said first source and said second source to said electric motor.  
 
     
     
       28. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  further comprising a speed limiter coupled to said at least one drive system for setting the top speed of said vehicle. 
     
     
       29. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  further comprising a speed control coupled to said at least one drive system for maintaining a selected constant speed of said vehicle. 
     
     
       30. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  wherein said acute angle is approximately 30°. 
     
     
       31. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  wherein said liquid supply system comprises:
 a tank for storing said liquid;  
 a pump coupled to said tank for pumping said liquid therefrom under pressure; and  
 a boiler having an inlet coupled to said pump for receiving said liquid under pressure and said boiler having an outlet coupled to said plurality of nozzles.  
 
     
     
       32. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  wherein said vacuum recycling system comprises:
 a vacuum tank coupled to said at least one vacuum port;  
 first filter means mounted in said vacuum tank for partially filtering said mixture wherein a partially-filtered mixture is deposited via gravity in a lower portion of said vacuum tank;  
 a sump pump mounted in said lower portion of said vacuum tank for pumping said partially-filtered mixture therefrom;  
 second filter means coupled to said sump pump for completely filtering said partially-filtered mixture wherein said liquid is returned to said liquid supply system; and  
 a vacuum source coupled to an upper portion of said vacuum tank above said partially-filtered mixture for suctioning air from said upper portion of said vacuum tank to maintain a suction force at said at least one vacuum port.  
 
     
     
       33. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 32  further comprising a baffle mounted in said upper portion of said vacuum tank for entrainment of said partially-filtered mixture drawn into said air in said upper portion of said vacuum tank by said vacuum source. 
     
     
       34. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 19  further comprising a pair of side-by-side mounting arms rotatably mounted to said deck between said forward portion and said rear portion for rotation within said cleaning volume in a plane substantially parallel to said deck, each of said mounting arms having at least one of said plurality of nozzles mounted thereon wherein said mounting arms rotate when said liquid under pressure is sprayed from said plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
       35. A brushless surface cleaner, comprising:
 a vehicle having an electric motor, a combustion-engine motor, a drive train, and means for selectively coupling one of said electric motor and said combustion-engine motor to said drive train to propel said vehicle;  
 a cleaning head mounted to said vehicle to extend forward therefrom, said cleaning head having a deck and a skirt extending from said deck wherein, when said skirt is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is bounded by said deck, said skirt and the surface to be cleaned;  
 said cleaning head having at least one vent port formed in a forward portion of said deck and at least one vacuum port formed in a rear portion of said deck, wherein the area defined by said at least one vent port is approximately equal to the area defined by said at least one vacuum port;  
 an open-ended duct extending from each said vent port and away from said cleaning volume;  
 a plurality of nozzles mounted to said deck for movement within said cleaning volume when liquid under pressure is supplied thereto and sprayed therefrom, said movement being between said at least one vent port and said at least one vacuum port, each of said plurality of nozzles directed towards the surface to be cleaned at an acute angle with respect to vertical;  
 a liquid supply system mounted on said vehicle for supplying said liquid under pressure to said plurality of nozzles wherein the surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by said liquid to produce a mixture of said liquid and contaminants loosened from the surface to be cleaned; and  
 a vacuum recycling system mounted on said vehicle and coupled to said at least one vacuum port for suctioning said mixture, filtering said mixture to separate said liquid from said contaminants and returning said liquid so-separated to said liquid supply system for reuse thereby.  
 
     
     
       36. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  wherein said skirt includes a flexible seal for contacting the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       37. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 36  wherein said flexible seal comprises a multi-layered material having at least one layer of rubber and at least one layer of nylon. 
     
     
       38. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 36  wherein said flexible seal is mounted for adjustable positioning relative to said deck. 
     
     
       39. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  further comprising means for adjusting a forward-to-rear pitch of said cleaning head relative to the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       40. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  further comprising means for adjusting a side-to-side pitch of said cleaning head relative to the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       41. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  further comprising a speed limiter for setting the top speed of said vehicle. 
     
     
       42. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  further comprising a speed control for maintaining a selected constant speed of said vehicle. 
     
     
       43. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  wherein said acute angle is approximately 30°. 
     
     
       44. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  wherein said liquid supply system comprises:
 a tank for storing said liquid;  
 a pump coupled to said tank for pumping said liquid therefrom under pressure; and  
 a boiler having an inlet coupled to said pump for receiving said liquid under pressure and said boiler having an outlet coupled to said plurality of nozzles.  
 
     
     
       45. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  wherein said vacuum recycling system comprises:
 a vacuum tank coupled to said at least one vacuum port;  
 first filter means mounted in said vacuum tank for partially filtering said mixture wherein a partially-filtered mixture is deposited via gravity in a lower portion of said vacuum tank;  
 a sump pump mounted in said lower portion of said vacuum tank for pumping said partially-filtered mixture therefrom;  
 second filter means coupled to said sump pump for completely filtering said partially-filtered mixture wherein said liquid is returned to said liquid supply system; and  
 a vacuum source coupled to an upper portion of said vacuum tank above said partially-filtered mixture for suctioning air from said upper portion of said vacuum tank to maintain a suction force at said at least one vacuum port.  
 
     
     
       46. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 45  further comprising a baffle mounted in said upper portion of said vacuum tank for entrainment of said partially-filtered mixture drawn into said air in said upper portion of said vacuum tank by said vacuum source. 
     
     
       47. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  further comprising:
 at least one battery serving as a first source of electricity;  
 an alternator coupled to said combustion-engine motor wherein operation of said combustion-engine motor causes said alternator to serve as a second source of electricity; and  
 means for coupling one of said first source and said second source to said electric motor.  
 
     
     
       48. A  The brushless surface cleaner as in  claim 35  further comprising a pair of side-by-side mounting arms rotatably mounted to said deck between said forward portion and said rear portion for rotation within said cleaning volume in a plane substantially parallel to said deck, each of said mounting arms having at least one of said plurality of nozzles mounted thereon wherein said mounting arms rotate when said liquid under pressure is sprayed from said plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
       49. A surface cleaner, comprising:
   at least one drive system for propelling said surface cleaner on a surface to be cleaned;        a cleaning head having a deck and a skirt extending from said deck wherein, when said skirt is placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is bounded by said deck, said skirt and the surface to be cleaned;        said cleaning head having at least one vent port and at least one vacuum port;        at least one nozzle mounted to said deck within said cleaning volume, and liquid under pressure is supplied to said at least one nozzle and sprayed therefrom;        a liquid supply system for supplying said liquid under pressure to said at least one nozzle wherein said surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by said liquid to produce a mixture of said liquid and contaminants loosened from said surface to be cleaned;        a vacuum recycling system mounted on said vehicle and coupled to said at least one vacuum port for suctioning said mixture from said surface to be cleaned into said vacuum system, filtering said mixture to separate said liquid from said contaminants, and returning said liquid so - separated to said liquid supply system for reuse thereby; and        at least one drive system for propelling said surface cleaner on said surface to be cleaned.     
     
     
       50. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  wherein said at least one vent port and said at least one vacuum port are formed in said deck. 
     
     
       51. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  wherein the area defined by said at least one vent port is approximately equal to the area defined by said at least one vacuum port. 
     
     
       52. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  further comprising an open- ended duct extending from each said vent port and away from said cleaning volume.   
     
     
       53. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  wherein said skirt includes a flexible seal for contacting the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       54. The surface cleaner as in  claim 53  wherein said flexible seal comprises a multi- layered material having at least one layer of rubber and at least one layer of nylon.   
     
     
       55. The surface cleaner as in  claim 53  wherein said flexible seal is mounted for adjustable positioning relative to said deck. 
     
     
       56. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  further comprising means for adjusting a forward- to - rear pitch of said cleaning head relative to the surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
       57. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  further comprising means for adjusting a side- to - side pitch of said cleaning head relative to the surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
       58. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  wherein said at least one drive system comprises:
   an electric motor;        a combustion - engine motor;        a drive train; and        means for selectively coupling one of said electric motor and said combustion - engine motor to said drive train to propel said surface cleaner.     
     
     
       59. The surface cleaner as in  claim 58  further comprising:
   at least one battery serving as a first source of electricity;        an alternator coupled to said combustion - engine motor wherein operation of said combustion - engine motor causes said alternator to serve as a second source of electricity; and        means for coupling one of said first source and said second source to said electric motor.     
     
     
       60. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  further comprising a speed limiter coupled to said at least one drive system for setting the top speed of said surface cleaner. 
     
     
       61. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  further comprising a speed control coupled to said at least one drive system for maintaining a selected constant speed of said surface cleaner. 
     
     
       62. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  wherein each of said at least one nozzle is directed towards the surface to be cleaned at an acute angle of approximately  30 ° with respect to vertical. 
     
     
       63. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  wherein said liquid supply system comprises:
   a tank for storing said liquid;        a pump coupled to said tank for pumping said liquid therefrom under pressure; and        a boiler having an inlet coupled to said pump for receiving said liquid under pressure and said boiler having an outlet coupled to said at least one nozzle.     
     
     
       64. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  wherein said vacuum recycling system further comprises:
   a vacuum tank for collecting the separated liquid before returning the liquid to said liquid supply system.     
     
     
       65. The surface cleaner as in  claim 49  further comprising at least one mounting arm rotatably mounted to said deck for rotation within said cleaning volume in a plane substantially parallel to said deck, said at least one mounting arm having said at least one nozzle mounted thereon wherein said mounting arm rotates when said liquid under pressure is sprayed from said at least one nozzle. 
     
     
       66. The surface cleaner as in  claim 64  further comprising:
   first filter means mounted in said vacuum tank for partially filtering said mixture wherein a partially - filtered mixture is deposited via gravity in a lower portion of said vacuum tank;        a sump pump mounted in said lower portion of said vacuum tank for pumping said partially - filtered mixture therefrom;        second filter means coupled to said sump pump for completely filtering said partially - filtered mixture wherein said liquid is returned to said liquid supply system; and        a vacuum source coupled to an upper portion of said vacuum tank above said partially - filtered mixture for suctioning air from said upper portion of said vacuum tank to maintain a suction force at said at least one vacuum port.     
     
     
       67. The surface cleaner as in  claim 66  further comprising a baffle mounted in said upper portion of said vacuum tank for entrainment of said partially- filtered mixture drawn into said air in said upper portion of said vacuum tank by said vacuum source.